Though it was already quite late at night, Empress Amina couldn't sleep at all. Her husband finally entered the chamber after doing some work and he was surprised to know that she was still up.
"What's wrong, Amina?" Emperor Kalos asked as he climbed on the bed. He looked at his wife who finally turned to him.
"Something's wrong with Andres," the Empress muttered. "Do you notice how sad his smile appeared when he said that he will get marry?"
"Is that so?" Emperor Kalos asked. He too was amazed by how his wife always managed to spot things that he couldn't.
Amina Francia nodded and pushed herself up. "Do you think he has someone he likes?"
"But I never saw him paying attention to any lady," the Emperor said, feeling confused.
Empress Amina thought about it and gets off the bed. "The arranged marriage will be brought up during tomorrow's meeting. I should talk to Andres before that," she said.
Though it was pretty late now, the Emperor knew that his wife won't be able to brush it off her mind if she didn't solve it first. So, he didn't protest and instead, he accompanied her to their only son's chamber.
The Emperor and Empress were surprised to see that their son was still sitting on a couch near the balcony. It's already late. Why didn't he sleep?
Andres was equally surprised as his parents. He didn't expect them to come at this hour. However, he rose from his seat and greeted them with a little smile. "What brings you here? It's late."
"Your mother cannot sleep," the Emperor said to his son. "Something bothers her."
Hearing this, the Crown Prince walked towards his mother and held her arm. "What's wrong, Mother?" he asked in a calm voice.
The Empress quietly stared at her son before she said, "Let's sit down first. I want to talk to you."
Andres Francia nodded and led his mother towards the couch while his father followed them and took a seat next to his wife. Then the Crown Prince sat opposite his parents.
"The arranged marriage..." the Empress started, glancing at her son. "Do you really mean it?"
Andres sighed but there was still a smile on his face. "I thought that it's something serious," he muttered and replied, "I mean it. I'm already 23. It's time for me to settle down."
"Andres," the Empress muttered in a calm voice. "I know that there's something wrong with you. You never want it whenever we brought up marriage in the past. Why would you suddenly change your mind?"
"Orius is the same, Mother," the Crown Prince said. "He never wants to marry but look at him now. He's happy with his new wife."
"But Orius mean it when he said that he wanted to start a family," Empress Amina argued. "But you... you seem like you do this because you have no other choice."
"I know that having an heir is important due to your status, Andres," the Emperor chimed in. "However, if you're not willing, we can wait. I don't want you to live an unhappy life just for the sake of the throne."
"Don't say that, Father," Andres promptly uttered. "I'm the Crown Prince. Ensuring the stability of the throne is also my responsibility. You always told me that I can't live just for myself. I accept that and I will also follow it."
"You have someone you like, don't you?" the Empress suddenly said.
"I don't -"
"Don't lie to me," Amina Francia said in a stern voice. "You're my son. I know you well than you thought."
pαпᵈα-noνɐ1·сoМ Kalos Francia knew that Andres could never refuse if his mother ever talked to him with that tone. Though he was also his father, he could never understand the bond that the two shared. For Andres, his mother always mattered the most to him.
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes and nervously pressed his nails together. He knew that tone and he also knew that he will only anger his mother if he keeps on lying. That's the last thing he wanted.
"That's right," he finally admitted and looked at the Empress. "But everything's already over, Mother. It's useless now."
Emperor Kalos blinked when he heard his son.
He really liked someone?! Who was it?!
The last two sentences of his son rang a bell in the Empress's mind. "It's Maria, right?"
The Crown Prince wasn't even surprised that his mother guessed it right. Instead, he could only nod.
"Maria?!" the Emperor exclaimed.
The Crown Princess of Vialand who will get married in three days?!
Andres rose from his seat and crouched down beside his mother. "I already learn to let go, Mother. I already bid goodbye to her. Don't think too much."
This was the reason why he wished to conceal it. Even if his parents know, they won't be able to do anything. He knew that if he's hurt, the pain his mother felt was always double compared to him. He didn't want that.
Feeling helpless, Empress Amina let out a breath. "What are we supposed to do?" she uttered, desperate. "Why must it be her?"
There won't be a problem if the woman was a Princess but... a Crown Princess? She was destined to take over the throne just like Andres.
What was there to expect?!
Even the Emperor didn't know what to say. This was beyond his authority.
"Mother," Andres muttered and held his mother's hand. "I'm stronger than you thought. Years ago, I knew that this time will come and I already get prepared for this. You don't have to worry about me, Mother. I already accept everything."
Staring down at her son, the Empress's heart hurt like never before. Just like she was the most important person to her son, her son was her life. For her, Andres was everything and imagining him to went through such a heartbreak... she hated herself for not noticing it sooner.
"Let's push the arrange marriage ahead as planned," Andres said to his parents. "I really mean it."
"Are you sure that you will be okay?" his mother asked him with concern written all over her face.
Andres Francia nodded, forcing a little smile. "I think now is a good time. Who knows, I might be lucky enough to meet a good partner like you two and Orius."
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